Coatesville moves reorganization meeting to Monday

COATESVILLE – The city’s yearly reorganization meeting scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday was cancelled in order to move the meeting to Monday, Jan. 7 at 3 p.m.

According to Coatesville City Manager Kirby Hudson, the meeting was cancelled following further inspection of the city code that states the meeting must be held on the first Monday in January as opposed to the first business day of the month, which would have been Wednesday.

“For the last couple years it just automatically worked out that (Monday) was actually the first business day of the month,” Hudson said.

The short meeting will include votes by council for a president and vice president as well as set the meeting days and holidays for the rest of the year.

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In addition, council could decide to take action on the police chief vacancy.

Stephen Johnson, a 35-year veteran with the Philadelphia Police, was named chief in November.

Scheduled to start the position last year, Johnson resigned Monday following a cancer diagnosis.

Johnson said he came to the decision after consulting family and doctors.

Previous police chief candidate John Laufer III, a major with the Pennsylvania State Police, was contacted following Johnson’s resignation.

Hudson said he has been in contact with Laufer and he is still interested in the position.

“What I’m hoping is that council will bring it to a vote and if that happens we could easily see ourselves swearing him in following Monday,” Hudson said.

That following Monday, Jan. 14, would be the city’s first regularly scheduled council meeting.

In September, Laufer was rejected by council by one vote. While a majority vote of four members was necessary, only four were present, and Councilwoman Carrie “Villa” Hunt’s lone dissenting vote was the decider. That vote took place after Councilwoman Ingird Jones left the meeting early.

Two months later, Johnson was approved by a 6-0 vote. Johnson never worked in Coatesville because of his health concerns.

About the Author

Jeremy Gerrard is the Daily Local News' reporter covering the West Chester area and local school district. Jeremy is a Chester County native and a graduate of Auburn University. Reach the author at jgerrard@dailylocal.com
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